Diversity of researcher types and plurality of philosophical concepts in limnology – an essay

Abstract

ABSTRACT Scientific research in limnology is intricately linked to philosophical aspects via research methodology, reasoning, ontology, and epistemology. However, the potential plurality of scientific approaches, and hence philosophical directions in our discipline, has seldom been discussed, possibly because philosophy and history in our discipline are only occasionally part of the curricula in limnology and ecology. Therefore, many researchers may not be aware of the fundamental philosophical basis of doing science. Here, I construct a set of 7 researcher types that reflect my perception of colleagues I have met during my career. I link these 7 types with philosophical concepts and streams in ontology, epistemology, and science philosophy to demonstrate that diversity of researcher types can be related to a plurality of philosophical thinking. I argue that the plurality of approaches is a precondition for successful scientific research that aims to address global challenges and to help understand the world. Therefore, fairly appreciating the contributions from all researchers involved in scientific work beyond first-author publications in general journals is mandatory; otherwise, scientific research and education might become funnelled into a subset of approaches too narrow to comprehend the world. Our International Society of Limnology (SIL), with its 100 years of history, must develop a framework and activities that unite researchers and their underlying philosophies to address global challenges for inland waters.